I decided to create this blog after a sudden onset of a serious medical condition. Scroll down to the bottom to start at the beginning of this journey. The events that have occurred over the past three weeks are very interesting. I have many people who want to be updated, and thought this might be an easy way to keep people in the loop! The initial postings are long because they basically summarize the initial two weeks of my illness.

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

The good news is that there is nothing wrong internally that is of concern. The bad news is I still have this unexplainable pain. I'm going to try Naproxen for the discomfort and I may even try an over the counter sleeper. Night time is definately the worst...so maybe I'd feel a lot better with a good nights sleep.

Drove today for the first time...it was a bit uncomfortable, but I managed and didn't have to go more than about 5 miles or so.

Took the kids to the grocery store, who were amazingly helpful. They pushed the cart and loaded to groceries up at the checkout. Jess loaded them into the car and they helped carry them up the basement stairs, unpack them, and put them away.

I managed to sneak in a nap for an hour, which was good...and not uncomfortable :)

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

It has been awhile since I've updated and figured it was time to sit down and get it done!

The recovery has gone a bit slower than I had hoped, as I am still continuing to have pain at this point...we are almost at 3 weeks post surgery. I saw the surgeon last week for my followup and he felt that things were looking good. The preliminary pathology reports look good as well.

But another week has gone by and I still have this very strange pain in the middle of my belly. The incisions have healed well and the larger of the three is still a little tender to touch...like a bruised feeling, so...we just don't touch it! This other pain is in the center of my abdomen below and to the left of my belly button. I get sharp, stabbing pains when I take in a deep breath, bend over, after I do any extensive walking, and after I eat. I have a constant feeling of being full, like you get when you overeat, and even after a small meal, I am in a lot of pain. By the end of the day I am "done" and the pain makes it very hard to relax and sleep comfortably. The surgeon has not given me any more pain meds at this time and over the counter stuff just doesn't help at all.

In addition, my blood pressure has remained elevated at times...especially when the pain is more severe. So, I am still taking meds to control my bp until I am pain free. Fortunately there aren't any negative side effects from this bp med I'm on now.

So...all that being said, we are headed back to Boston this afternoon for a CT scan and another appt with the surgeon. I hope that they find a cause for this weird pain...not that I want there to be a complication...more of a simple explanation. I hate the thought of walking away with the surgeon throwing his hands up in the air.

Other than that...I am just trying to get my head in gear to readjust to a "normal" life. Things have been so "off" for so long that it is hard to readjust again. But I am ready for my independence and ready to "give" again!

The kids have done really well through all of this. Dan spent a week at camp at the end of June and had a ball. Today he started his extended school year program. He will go to a Vet Farm camp in August, and is still taking bass clarinet lessons. He is really growing up!

Jess leaves on Saturday for three weeks. I am really going to miss her! She will be in Tennessee for a week with her church youth group at a big retreat called CHIC (Covenant High Schoolers in Christ)...from there she heads to the Univ. of NH for two weeks of music camp!

Jake is getting anxious to start his camps, which aren't until mid July. In the meantime he is playing in a summer basketball league and taking piano lessons.

Rob and I are trying to get back in sync and plan a vacation for early August. He is busy with work as usual.

I am hoping to be back at work in late Aug/early Sept. depending on what jobs are available.

We feel so blessed to have had my sisters here over the past few weeks to help take care of me, the kids, the house, and the crazy animals. My mood has been less than pleasant during this time, but it is just because I am so tired and frustrated...and anxious to just "move on." All this in God's time...I know!

About Me

I grew up in Florida and met my husband during high school, although we only dated a few months back then. We started dating again his last semester of college. We both attended the Univ. of Florida. We have been married for almost 18 years and have three beautiful children, ages 14, 12, and 8. We also have a cat and two soft coated Wheaten Terriers.
We now live in New Hampshire and enjoy the seasons and all the beauty of New Enlgland. Camping has become our favorite past time and we especially love heading north to Bar Harbor.
I graduated from Nursing School at UF in 1992 and have mostly done cardiac care nursing. I tried my hand at some home health when I was pregnant with my youngest and have also done some skilled nursing. My true love is cardiac nursing!